The Jamboree

A World Scout Jamboree brings together Scouts and Guides from all across the globe for a two-week programme of global development, peace, culture, understanding, adventure, fun and friendship. The UK Contingent has a long history of sending a large number of Units (36 young people and 4 leaders). Although 2019 may seem a long way away, BirmingJam has already begun its journey. There is so much to do to make sure the participants are prepared, fundraising is complete and that we’re ready to make this the best Jamboree experience ever!

Jamboree History

The first WSJ took place in London in 1920 with 8000 Scouts from 34 Nations. Since then, the Jamboree has been held almost every four years all across the world. There have been 23 WSJs so far. The previous Jamboree, Japan 2015, was attended by 33,628 members from 155 countries and territories. In 2019, 24th World Scout Jamboree will take place in North America, at the Summit Bechtel Reserve in West Virginia.

Jamboree Timeline

  1. 30/07/1920
  2. 10/08/1924
  3. 31/07/1929
  4. 02/08/1933
  5. 31/07/1937
  6. 09/08/1947
  7. 03/08/1951
  8. 18/08/1955
  9. 01/08/1957
  10. 17/07/1959
  11. 01/08/1963
  12. 01/08/1967
  13. 02/08/1971
  14. 29/07/1975
  15. 05/07/1983
  16. 31/12/1987
  17. 08/08/1991
  18. 01/08/1995
  19. 27/12/1998
  20. 28/12/2002
  21. 28/07/2007
  22. 27/07/2011
  23. 28/07/2015

  1. 1st World Scout Jamboree
    London
    United Kingdom
    Develop World Peace
    Attendance: 8,000
    Countries Attended: 34


  2. 2nd World Scout Jamboree
    Ermelunden
    Denmark
    Citizenship
    Attendance: 4,549
    Countries Attended: 32

  3. 3rd World Scout Jamboree
    Upton, Merseyside
    United Kingdom
    Coming of Age
    Attendance: 4,549
    Countries Attended: 32


  4. 4th World Scout Jamboree
    Gödöllő
    Hungary
    Face New Adventures
    Attendance: 25,792
    Countries Attended: 33

  5. 5th World Scout Jamboree
    Bloemendaal
    Netherlands
    Lead Happy Lives
    Attendance: 28,750
    Countries Attended: 54

  6. 6th World Scout Jamboree
    Moisson
    France
    Jamboree of Peace
    Attendance: 24,152
    Countries Attended: 71

  7. 7th World Scout Jamboree
    Bad Ischl
    Austria
    Jamboree of Simplicity
    Attendance: 12,884
    Countries Attended: 61

  8. 8th World Scout Jamboree
    Niagara-on-the-Lake
    Ontario, Canada
    New Horizons
    Attendance: 11,139
    Countries Attended: 61

  9. 9th World Scout Jamboree
    Sutton Park, Warwickshire
    United Kingdom
    50th Anniversary of Scouting
    Attendance: 31,426
    Countries Attended: 82

  10. 10th World Scout Jamboree
    Los Baños, Laguna
    Philippines
    Building Tomorrow Today
    Attendance: 12,203
    Countries Attended: 44

  11. 11th World Scout Jamboree
    Marathon
    Greece
    Higher and Wider
    Attendance: 11,398
    Countries Attended: 89

  12. 12th World Scout Jamboree
    Farragut State Park, Idaho
    United States
    For Friendship
    Attendance: 12,011
    Countries Attended: 105

  13. 13th World Scout Jamboree
    Fujinomiya, Shizuoka
    Japan
    For Understanding
    Attendance: 23,758
    Countries Attended: 87

  14. 14th World Scout Jamboree
    Lillehammer
    Norway
    Five Fingers, One Hand
    Attendance: 17,259
    Countries Attended: 91

  15. 15th World Scout Jamboree
    Kananaskis, Alberta
    Canada
    The Spirit Lives On
    Attendance: 14,752
    Countries Attended: 106

  16. 16th World Scout Jamboree
    Sydney
    Australia
    Bringing the World Together
    Attendance: 14,434
    Countries Attended: 84

  17. 17th World Scout Jamboree
    Seoraksan National Park
    South Korea
    Many Lands, One World
    Attendance: 19,083
    Countries Attended: 135

  18. 18th World Scout Jamboree
    Dronten
    Netherlands
    Future is Now
    Attendance: 28,960
    Countries Attended: 166

  19. 19th World Scout Jamboree
    Picarquín
    Chile
    Building Peace Together
    Attendance: 31,534
    Countries Attended: 157

  20. 20th World Scout Jamboree
    Sattahip
    Thailand
    Share our World, Share our Cultures
    Attendance: 24,000
    Countries Attended: 147

  21. 21st World Scout Jamboree
    Chelmsford, Essex
    United Kingdom
    One World, One Promise. Scouting Centenary
    Attendance: 37,868
    Countries Attended: 155

  22. 22nd World Scout Jamboree
    Kristianstad
    Sweden
    Simply Scouting
    Attendance: 40,061
    Countries Attended: 146

  23. 23rd World Scout Jamboree
    Kirarahama, Yamaguchi
    Japan
    A Spirit of Unity
    Attendance: 33,628
    Countries Attended: 155

North America

For the first time, a WSJ will be hosted by three National Scout Organisations: the Boy Scouts of America, Scouts Canada and Scouts of Mexico. It is set to be the largest event delivered by Scouting worldwide with an expected 50,000 members, from 163 National Scouting Organisations, representing more than 200 nations and territories to attend. The theme of this year’s Jamboree is to “Unlock a New World”. Scouts shall unlock a new world of life-changing experiences that will develop their physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual life, united by the Scout Promise and Law.

Taking place on a 10,000 acre campsite, in an area of natural beauty, Summit Bechtel is the perfect location. A few of its wonders are the longest combined zip lines in the world (5.45m/8.7km), longest canopy course in the country (9.55m/15.3km), the largest man-made outdoor climbing facility in the country and the largest natural outdoor arena in West Virginia (80,000 capacity).